8 Fitness Trends You Should Pay Attention To in 2017

The festive season is almost over and it’s about time to put an end to the seemingly endless feasting and binging. If you’re not a health and fitness junkie, we understand how the thought of getting off your couch or bed to exercise can be extremely daunting. But everyone’s gotta start somewhere, right? So, to give you a better idea on how to kickstart your fitness journey, here are some of the top workout trends you can look out for this year.

Body Weight Training

Body weight exercises are one of the best ways to kick start your workouts. They are relatively easy to learn, they can be customised to suit your ability, you can do them anywhere, and the best part is, no equipment is required. Body weight training is pretty much the most effective way to get fit without having to fork out any money! Some of the classic exercises you can start with are pushups, pull-ups, squats, lunges, planks, and more.

Strength Training

Strength training has been scientifically proven to increase longevity, build muscle mass and protect your body from backaches, diabetes, and more. Hence many fitness buffs are gradually beginning to include strength training in their workouts as well. The common misconception about strength training is that these sorts of exercises will make you bulky and buff, so most women used to avoid them. Nowadays, a growing number of females have come to realise that strength training can actually help burn more fat and boost metabolism.

HIIT

High Intensity Interval Training, or HIIT, has been one of the most popular fitness trends in recent years. More and more fitness classes have begun to incorporate high intensity exercises into their workout routines, such as Pilates, cross fit and boot camps. HIIT helps you to burn calories fast by alternating quick and high intensity exercise with short intervals for rest. You can try this workout on your own by spending about 20 to 30 minutes combining short exercises with short breaks. For examples, you can do 45 seconds of burpees with 15 seconds of rest, followed by 45 seconds of squats. There are also many HIIT video tutorials you can find online to help guide you through your routine.

Circuit Training

Circuit training is considered HIIT’s less intense counterpart, making it perfect for beginners who find HIIT a bit intimidating. Despite its lower-intensity routines, it is a great way to improve strength, stamina and mobility. It comprises of six to 10 strength-related exercises that are to be completed one after another in a circuit with rest in between each workout. You can do each exercise for a set duration or number of repetitions before moving on to the next one. Each circuit is then separated by a longer rest period. Once again, you can try this training at home or at the gym by incorporating equipment.

Wearable Technology

Fitness trackers and smartwatches burst into the scene in the last couple of years, from affordable ones to the more pricey versions. Those who don’t exercise much on a day-to-day basis also use these wearable tech, mainly to track how many steps they’ve taken every day. However, we suspect that this trend will only get bigger. Besides tracking distance, this wearable tech also provides pretty accurate heart rate readings that can really help track your fitness lifestyle. So start investing in one!

Fitness Apps

You must have heard of fitness mobile apps like Nike Run Club, Strava and 7 Minute Workout by now. Similar to wearables, these apps can help you plan your fitness lifestyle, from planning your meals to designing exercise routines. Some also have the same functions as wearable tech in terms of tracking distance and GPS routes. So start experimenting with these apps – they can be easily found on the Apple AppStore or Google PlayStore – in the comfort of your own home.

Outdoor Activities

If working out at home or at the gym is not exactly your idea of exercising because the four walls just don’t seem to motivate you, then try going outdoors. Whether it is jogging at the park, hiking, rock climbing or swimming, outdoor activities are highly recommended by experts because it is an excellent way to enhance your overall fitness. Did you know that hiking upwards for an hour can help you burn up to 530 calories? That number is even more when the wind resistance is high! There are also mental benefits tied to outdoor activities because the view of greenery can actually boost your mood even after just five minutes. So start planning that morning hike you’ve been delaying for months!

Workplace Health

All work and no exercise makes Jack a very unhealthy boy… More companies are beginning to realise that a healthy employee is a happy and more productive employee. Corporations big and small alike have started promoting health programmes to promote a healthy lifestyle, offering workplace gym facilities, fitness excursions, gym reimbursement, and more. So start participating in group exercises with your colleagues after work and make full use of the gym in your office more often. You’ll be surprised how much money you’ll save and how much more healthier you’ll become by the end of the year!